Factoring occurs when a company sells one or more accounts receivable invoices owed on credit terms to a financier, known as a factor, for less than what they are owed. That discount, plus some additional fees, is how the factoring company makes its profit. Then factoring firm (hopefully) collects the total amount of the invoice owed from the original business' customer. The best factoring companies are able to advance funds to their clients within one business day, and they charge minimal fees. It's also helpful for factoring companies to be able to integrate with your accounting software and to have minimal credit requirements. Best Factoring Companies Best Factoring Companies Final Verdict Compare Companies FAQ Methodology Why We Chose It We chose altLINE as our best factoring company for large invoices because, as a commercial financing division of The Southern Bank, it is a direct financier and transparent to the business customer. As a result, it doesn’t have the middleman fees that are typically a percentage of the invoice, which saves more money on a large invoice. Pros & Cons Pros Provides a wide range of factoring options Discount rates as low as 0.50% Supported by a reliable banking institution Cons Funds may not be instant Overview Backed by The Southern Bank Company, altLINE has provided more than $1 billion in funded invoices since 1936. Unlike most factoring companies, it is backed by an established, reputable bank, making it our preferred choice for large invoice factoring because. As a direct lending company, altLINE doesn’t carry additional borrowing costs that can become expensive on large invoices. While its upper limit on invoice value may be a bit lower than a few of its competitors, we still selected it as best for large invoices because it keeps its fees transparent and charges fewer of them, which lowers the cost for the business customer with a large invoice. Its factoring rate can be as low as 0.50%. Other fees that may apply are for origination, wire transfers, and to speed up funding. The company does not use credit score as a primary consideration. However, the specific rate will be determined partly by the customer’s credit and capacity to pay their invoices. To work with altLINE, you may need to meet certain requirements around the amount of annual sales you have and the number of invoices you need to factor. You can request a quote on altLINE’s website. After completing the request, an altLINE specialist will work with you to determine if factoring is the right service. The main drawback altLINE has compared to its competitors is the possibly slower funding timeline. It may take a couple of days to get your money, however, your experience may be more or less. The application process, however, is fast and does not require an application fee. Minimum and maximum factoring amounts may apply. Why We Chose It Triumph Business Capital is our choice as the best factoring company for invoice management because of its online MyTriumph web portal. This portal provides a full array of client reporting and allows businesses to monitor the status of their invoice payments. Pros & Cons Pros Ability to run credit checks and see the status of transactions in its portal High advance rates, up to 100% Fuel discount program Cons Not as much fee transparency as its competitors Overview Headquartered near Dallas, Texas, Triumph Business Capital has offered invoice factoring since 2004. The company launched MyTriumph.com which is an industry-leading web portal built for customers to manage their funding. Customers can stay up to date on their accounts from anywhere with real-time information by logging into their MyTriumph dashboard to view requests, payments, invoice searches, and to get immediate support from their customer service team. Triumph offers an advance rate of up to 100%. Things such as the age of your business, yearly revenue, invoice examples, and more may be examined to determine your eligibility to be a Triumph customer. Business owners must also have business-to-business or business-to-government sales invoices to qualify. Fees vary in size and form. In some cases, there are flat fees, and in others, there are variable rates. It depends on what you negotiate with Triumph. Triumph Business Capital works with the business to fit their budget and terms requirements. Once inside the portal as a client, you’ll have ready access to your invoice management fee structure. Interested businesses may apply by phone or through a form on the company's website. Just like the other factoring companies, a specialist will be in contact after submission. Triumph says it provides same-day funding, but it could take longer in some cases. The MyTriumph portal is robust and easy to use as you can see where your requests stand in the funding approval process. There is, however, no direct integration to sync your bookkeeping software, but you can download and upload files through an import and export process. Triumph determines its invoice funding amount on a case-by-case basis. It then recoups the money by collecting on your invoices. Why We Chose It We picked RTS Financial as the best invoice factoring company for trucking because it specializes in trucking and the freight industry. The company provides credit reports, fuel card programs, and trucking-related software with a mobile app. Pros & Cons Pros Offers mobile apps and web browser apps for better integration with its platform No hidden fees including ACH and invoice uploading Gives fuel card discounts Funds within 24 hours Up to 97% of invoice value paid upfront Cons You don’t find out about rates until after submitting a full application Must apply via contact form and then phone call Has complaints about difficulties in getting out of contract and cancellation fees Overview RTS Financial, a factoring company founded in 1986, offers working capital solutions to businesses across multiple industries, but with a clear focus on the trucking industry. It has apps for both web browsers and mobile and serves truck driving companies with same-day funding, a discount fuel card program, a solution for trucking companies operating in Mexico, credit reports for freight brokers, and comprehensive fleet management software. The company does not disclose its pricing and rates until after you’ve applied. RTS does not charge hidden fees such as ACH fees or invoice-upload fees. For the invoice factoring service, the company will advance up to 97% of the total amount within 24 hours of taking your application. Requirements for RTS will differ by industry (trucking and non-trucking) and if it is domestic or international among other possible factors. To apply with RTS Financial, you need to submit the contact form online. A representative will then call you and take your application over the phone. In the application conversation, you’ll submit personal and business information, truck details, company ownership, and more. After the submission review, a representative from RTS Financial will contact you again to discuss your qualification and options. Funding can be as quick as 24 hours once approved. The company provides a mobile and web application called RTS Pro to help clients access fuel discounts and available loads, upload invoices for factoring, access free credit data on brokers, and manage load history. They also offer a separate full-service trucking software called ProTransport that offers load management and tracking, two-way driver communication, and integrations with QuickBooks. Funding minimum and maximum amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the company's full understanding of your financial picture. For Fuel Card allowances, RTS permits up to $3,200 per truck, per week.As customer invoices are paid, the remaining payments are made to the trucking business. Why We Chose It We selected eCapital as the best invoice factoring for small businesses because its comparatively low rates are helpful for smaller companies that need to retain more of their profit to survive. It works with small to medium-sized businesses and is a good option for businesses struggling to get invoice factoring. Pros & Cons Pros Non-recourse factoring Works with small and new businesses Fast payment within 24 hours Up to 90% advanced Decent rates Cons Financing options could become expensive if customers don't quickly pay invoices Overview In its long history, eCapital has bought more than 22 million invoices and worked with over 30,000 clients. With offices throughout North America and the UK, eCapital's rates are relatively competitive. The company offers non-recourse factoring for bankruptcy protection and weighs the customer’s ability to pay far above the personal credit of the business owner. Rates for small business factoring vary based on services used and invoice volume. Its advance rate is up to 90%. You may pay additional fees depending on your business and situation. Of course, additional services will likely carry additional fees too. Starts can work with eCapital, which has no requirement for the length of time in business. It appears more concerned with the customer’s ability to pay the invoice than the credit history of the business owner as it says it works with those unable to get bank financing. The process starts with a contact form which leads to a conversation with one of its representatives, and eCapital has the potential to advance your funds within 24 hours after signing the agreement. The company offers its client portal login on nearly every page of its website, allowing you to easily view and manage your account as well as receive funds. The online factoring company on our list backed by a bank is altLINE, allowing it to offer lower rates to its business clients. This helped it earn our selection as best overall, as did its established history, which dates back to 1936. These lower fees make it best suited for large invoices, though businesses should not expect to receive funds within 24 hours, as is the case with many other factoring companies. What Does Factor Mean in Financing? Invoice factoring is a mechanism for businesses to inject cash into their accounts by selling their invoices to a third party at a discount. Companies get immediate cash for their unpaid invoices that are due within 90 days, instead of waiting for their customers to pay their financial obligations. This funding option is best for businesses that need immediate cash to pay bills or make a large purchase, such as inventory. Factoring is best used as a short-term funding option because fees can be expensive if customers take more than 30 days to pay their invoices. A factoring company charges the business client a factor fee, which is the fee they charge for the advancement of funds. A good way to think of this fee is as a discount rate. For example, if the factor fee is 1% on a $30,000 invoice, then the fee is $300. Keep in mind, the 1.00% rate in this example is likely to grow to 2% on a weekly basis, and by the third month, expect 5%. Factor fees often scale from around 1% to 5%. Factoring may not make sense if you as a business owner have good credit, a low debt-to-income ratio, and don’t need the cash within a week. In this case, a long-term business loan or line of credit would be a better fit because the effective interest rate would be much lower. For this reason, factoring companies typically work with businesses that have less-than-perfect credit. Invoice financing is a loan, and invoice factoring is a sale. A business that uses invoice financing gets a loan from a bank that lends on the value of outstanding invoices it has. You’ll need to make payments like any other loan, and your business will still be collecting payments from your customers per usual. Invoice factoring occurs when a business sells its invoices to a factoring company at a discount in exchange for immediate cash. Our choice for best overall, altLINE, has factoring rates starting as low as 0.50%, but rates less than 1% are most likely only on invoices that customers will be paying within about a week. The longer it takes invoices to be paid, the higher those rates will go. They can be as much as 5% for invoices that are outstanding for 90 days. We reviewed 14 factoring companies to select the best five. We researched their factor fees, advance rate percentages, credit score eligibility requirements, minimum and maximum funding limits, invoice management processes, repayment terms, overall process duration, and bookkeeping software integration. As a result, we found four great factors that excel in different categories ready to help you with this long-standing business finance tool. Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy. altLINE. "Learn More About altLINE." altLINE. "Turn Your Outstanding Invoices Into Cash." Triumph. "Our History." Triumph. "What Is Invoice Factoring?" RTS. "About Us." RTS. "Fuel Card Program." eCapital. "About Us." eCapital. "Factoring Advance." Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in oureditorial policy. altLINE. "Learn More About altLINE." altLINE. "Turn Your Outstanding Invoices Into Cash." Triumph. "Our History." Triumph. "What Is Invoice Factoring?" RTS. "About Us." RTS. "Fuel Card Program." eCapital. "About Us." eCapital. "Factoring Advance." Related Terms What Is Software as a Service (SaaS)? 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Learn why and how background checks are done, and what information about you they uncover. more Merchant Services: Their Role in Business, How They Work, and Benefits Merchant services help businesses accept and process electronic payments from customers. They can include point-of-sale systems, credit card readers, payment gateways, and online transaction processing. moreBest Factoring Companies of 2024
Compare Personal Loan Rates with Our Partners at Fiona.com
Best Overall : altLINE
Best for Invoice Management : Triumph Business Capital
Best for Trucking : RTS Financial
Best for Small Businesses : eCapital
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Factoring Companies
Company Rates Funding Timeline Banking Affiliation altLINE Best Overall As low as 0.50% May take a couple of days The Southern Bank Company Triumph Business Capital Best for Invoice Management Vary Same-day N/A RTS Financial Best for Trucking Not disclosed Within 24 hours N/A eCapital Best for Small Businesses Vary Within 24 hours N/A Frequently Asked Questions
What Do Factoring Companies Do?
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Factoring Company?
Do You Need Good Credit for Factoring?
What Is the Difference Between Invoice Financing and Factoring?
What Is a Good Factoring Rate?
Methodology
FAQs
Best Factoring Companies of 2024? ›
The future of factoring is dynamic and technology-driven, with a focus on providing faster, more efficient, and environmentally responsible financial solutions.
Who is the best factoring company? ›- AltLINE. Best for: General small businesses.
- FundThrough. Best for: Factoring invoices using accounting/invoicing software.
- RTS Financial. Best for: Trucking businesses.
- ECapital. Best for: Fast invoice factoring.
- Scale Funding. Best for: Flexible contracts.
- Riviera Finance.
The future of factoring is dynamic and technology-driven, with a focus on providing faster, more efficient, and environmentally responsible financial solutions.
Are factoring companies worth it? ›Factoring companies are worth it if you need immediate access to funding for growth, payroll, or any other business expense.
What is a good rate for factoring? ›Average Factoring Rates in 2024 | ||
---|---|---|
Industry | Factoring Rate | Advance Rate |
General Small Business | 1.95% – 4.5% | 85% – 95% |
Retail & Wholesale | 1.95% – 4.5% | 80% – 95% |
Construction | 3.0% – 6.0% | 70% – 80% |
Apex Capital Corp
Apex Capital Corp has been supporting carriers since 1995 with a range of factoring services tailored to trucking companies of all sizes. Their strong focus on customer service and their flexible options make Apex a reliable choice.
Your old and new factoring companies will usually manage the buyout process for you, but it typically involves the following steps. You inform your old factor that you're switching factoring companies. The new factor contacts the old factor and agrees on a buyout date. The new factor verifies the current aging report.
Can I use two different factoring companies? ›Generally, no, you cannot have two factoring companies at the same time. Most factoring companies include language in their contracts that prevents clients from working with another factor. They often do this to reduce their own risk of both non-payment and buying fraudulent invoices.
What are the disadvantages of using a factoring company? ›- The cost will mean a reduction in your profit margin on each order or service fulfilment.
- It may reduce the scope for other borrowing - book debts will not be available as security.
For small businesses, long-term implications of invoice factoring risks include financial instability from client defaults, increased dependency on external financing, potential strain on customer relationships, and higher overall financing costs.
What is the monthly factoring fee? ›
A factoring company may charge 2 per cent for the first 30 days and 0.5 per cent for every 10 days the invoice remains unpaid. The fees are often called invoice discount rates. Some factoring companies offer a flat fee structure where a one-off fee is charged upfront.
What happens if a factoring company doesn't get paid? ›Non-recourse factoring
Requires the business owner or operator to shoulder the responsibility of unpaid invoices. If a client doesn't pay the invoice by the due date, the company must buy them back from the factoring company. The factoring company assumes liability for unpaid invoices.
The best part of factoring is that the service isn't based on your credit. Instead, approval is based on the creditworthiness of your customers.
How do you get approved for factoring company? ›Due Diligence: The factoring company conducts a thorough evaluation of the business's creditworthiness, the creditworthiness of its customers, and the validity of the invoices. This process may involve credit checks, verification of outstanding invoices, and analysis of the business's financial stability.
Is factoring receivables a good idea? ›Factoring invoices is an excellent option for companies that are pursuing an aggressive growth stage, as it can scale with your business. As long as your clients have good credit, you can increase the number of factors your business maintains.
Is debt factoring good? ›Debt factoring can have a significant impact on your business. On the positive side, it can improve your cash flow, free up your time, and provide protection against bad debts. However, it can also be expensive, and it could impact your customer relationships.